The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-06-06
AN HEREDITARY CURSE.
Statistics Showing that the Drinking Habit
Is Transmitted from Father to Son.

Philadelphia Medical Reporter
The latest Investigations of the subject of
been made by DR.. T. D. Crothers. the superin-
tendent of Walnut Lodge, Hartford, Conn. He
quotes DIR. Russ as relating that the miners OF
Westphaa, who live awaylfrom their wives are
generally intoxicated when they come home on
visits The result is that large proportion OF
the children born of these families idiots
and feeble-minded "Galen," he says further,
has pointed out some very curious facts con-
corning the children of professional men, which
indirectly relates to my topic. He found from
study of the heredity of the members of
some OF the largest scientific societies of Lon
don, that the legal profession presented
the most eminent men and the fewest idiots.
The medical profession came next. and, lastly,
the cierRymen, who produced the smallest num-
Der of eminent men, and the largest number of
idiots and feeble minded. The lawyers gave ORR
gin to six times as many more eminent men as
many more idiots and feeble minded as the
lawyers This curious fact evidently applies TO
Europe. where the clergy do not represent the
brain vigor of the educated classes. 1t also in
dicates that the occupation of the parent prior
to the child's birth. well physical vigor,
has power over the future of the child. In the
study of the heredity of inebriates many cases
appear where ine parents were greatly dis
turbed in health and their social relations prior
to the birth of the child, which grew up and be-
came an inebriate without any special exciting
cause"
In number of cases which he cites, DR..
Crothers has directly traced inebriety back to the
parents at a time prior to the child's birth In
instance the father a captain;
healthy, robust man. who never drank except on
shore, and then in great moderation. His ship
went to China and the South seas, and was
away twelve or fourteen months at time. de
married in middle life. and, on returning from q
long voyage, would 60 to his country house and
be intoxicated with his wife for week more
on wines-then recover and start away again.
His wife would drink with him and be partially
intoxicated. Several children were born all of
whom died in infancy except one, boy. who
grew up and became a periodic drlnker, and
came under DIR. Crotherss care. He
nervous, melancholy young man, who could not
follow any steady WORK long, and every
two or three months he would rush
away to join the most dissolute companions.
with whom he would remain in a room, and for
days drink to a condition of continuous stupor.
tackled with gastritis. Under The care OF ply
stefan he would quickly recover, and then he
would go back to the shipping house where he
was employed and exhibit great energy and in
dustry for long time His mind was unstable.
and he was credulous of all things outside of his
business If he became angry and excited, he
would stagger and talk like man drunken, his
face would grow red, the pupils of the eyes di-
late and the lids SWELL and he would be more or
less stupid for long time The approach of the
drink paroxysm was marked by great business
activity and anxiety to help some one. Then
suddenly he would find an evil companion, and
60 away and drink as before.
His early life, the Doctor found, was unevent-
full He was good student, of quiet retiring
manners, and held up as model for his com
panions When about fourteen years of age he
suffered from low, nervous fever of several
weeks duration. He lived in his uncle's family,
and had the best society and the most temperate
surroundings, when suddenly one day he disap-
peared. week later he was found in a low den
where he had been intoxicated from the time ne
in. He gave why he did this
and seemed indifferent to all counsel and advice.
For year after he was temperate and exem-
plary in every respect. Then he disappeared as
before. and drank wine in room to stupor for
week CT more, then came hack. Then from this
time these drink paroxysms were noted by the
great secretiveness to go where he could not be
found and also by never drinking until he found
such a place and evil companion to ioin him.
He was twenty five years of age when placed in
DIR. Crotherss charge. who finally. so far as ap-
pearances went, effected a cure The young man
Inherited large property, married and went to
the West Indies. I'm this case" says DR..
Crothers "a most striking similarity was appar
ent between the drink paroxysms of his parents,
which were marked by continuous use of wine
to stupor for days in a room alone. In his case,
beginning at youth, it seemed to burst out
inherited impulse, using the same spirits and
lasting about the same time. Why he should
suddenly and without premonition go away and
drink to great excess in peculiarly unusual
way for boy, and ever after keep it up at inter
walls under the circumstances, can only be
answered from study of the heredity."
IN another case the physician cites the father
as a temperate man. The mother had drunk beer
at meals all her life. After their wedding, how
ever, both we're intoxicated, and remained in
that condition for considerable period of that
time. The first child little, fretful Great
ure, which cried night and day for the first year.
By accident whisky was found to produce the
most perfect relief. From this time nothing but
some form of spirits would allay the nervous r-
ritation, and as he grew older he would cry for
it, and refused to be satisfied with any other
fluid At ten he drank beer regularly every
night, and at fifteen he drank to great excess In
appearance he feeble and imperfectly
developed. His mind was uncertain
and changeable. The taste and eff
fects of spirits gave him, he said,
the greatest pleasure. When he could not get
spirits he was delirious. and after using two
three glasses he became stupid and laughed at
everything until he fell asleep. He was placed
in the of physician. who tried to with
draw the use of spirits by reducing it from day
to day After the spirits were withdrawn he de-
velcped mania and delusons of persecution,
during which ne escaped from control and drank
to stupor. The mania disappeared. Again the
effort to break up the use of spirits tried,
but the mania returned more violent than ever,
and the spirits were resumed and continued up
to death, at twenty years of age. Three other
children were born this couple, who were tenn
perate and Of average strength and vigor. The
parents never used any spirits after the first
year of marriage.
A placed il his care who had occu-
pied worry responsible position of trust. and
who, with an insane indifference had drunk to
great excess, and forfeited all honor and respect
He was educated, and was a man of talent and
great energy. He was temperate up to forty
years of age, when suddenly he drank to intoxi-
cation, and he was seen on the streets shouting
in delirious way. In two or three days he be-
came TEMPERATE, and seemed to have no regrets
or sorrow for the past. lie manifested no in
terest in the advice and counsel of his friends,
and made no remarks of explanation. nor gave
any reason for his conduct Several months
later he drank before. and returned to his
work with the same cool Indifference as
to his conduct and its consequences. He
was forced to resign his position as
officer OF bank. and gradually
went down lower and lower, until brought to
DIR. Crothers- He drank periodically. the free
interval being from three to eighteen months.
the drink paroxysm lasting from three to six
days During this paroxysm he was maniscal,
and reeled up and down the street, was
in an open carriage. always going where he was
most prominent. and making public speeches
He seemed possessed with decisions of power
and grandeur and placed himself in the most
prominent places Interpreting the attention he
received as evidence of his greatness. When he
recovered ne seemed to have a paralysis of all
conception of the nature and character of his
conduct. On all other matters he was clear and
intelligent. but this be silent and re-
served he recovered and went to the far West
to live a cattle rauch.
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